Roof lining for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle having lateral impact protection

Abstract

A roof lining for a motor vehicle passenger compartment has a lining part disposed on a roof frame of the vehicle under which a lateral impact protection for an occupant is provided. An aperture is formed in the lining part for deployment of the lateral impact protection in the event of activation of the lateral impact protection. An axis of flexion is provided in the lining part and is formed by an elongated section of the lining part, having a lower material density than the adjoining regions.

I claim:  
     
       1. Roof lining for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a lining part disposed on a roof frame of the vehicle under which lateral impact protection for an occupant is provided, an aperture provided in the lining part for deployment of lateral impact protection in the event of activation of the lateral impact protection and an axis of flexion operatively provided in the lining part, wherein the axis of flexion is comprised of an elongated section of the lining part which has a lower material density than adjoining regions of the lining part. 
     
     
       2. Roof lining according to  claim 1 , wherein a region of the lining part adjoining the axis of flexion is configured to be folded down such that the aperture for the deployment of the lateral impact protection ( 9 ) comprising a gas cushion is formed. 
     
     
       3. Roof lining according to  claim 1 , wherein the lining part is operatively secured on the roof frame in a freely suspended manner with at least one retaining element. 
     
     
       4. Roof lining according to  claim 3 , wherein a region of the lining part adjoining the axis of flexion is configured to be folded down such that the aperture for the deployment of the lateral impact protection comprising a gas cushion is formed. 
     
     
       5. Roof lining according to  claim 1 , wherein the lining part comprises a compacted fiber material, with the section forming the axis of flexion being uncompacted or at least less compacted than remaining regions of the lining part. 
     
     
       6. Roof lining according to  claim 5 , wherein a region of the lining part adjoining the axis of flexion is configured to be folded down such that the aperture for the deployment of the lateral impact protection comprising a gas cushion is formed. 
     
     
       7. Roof lining according to  claim 6 , wherein the lining part is operatively secured on the roof frame in a freely suspended manner with at least one retaining element. 
     
     
       8. Roof lining according to  claim 5 , wherein the fiber material is a cotton fiber non-woven. 
     
     
       9. Roof lining according to  claim 5 , wherein the fiber material is hemp. 
     
     
       10. Roof lining according to  claim 5 , wherein the fiber material is kenaf. 
     
     
       11. Roof lining according to  claim 2 , wherein the axis of flexion is provided in a edge region of the lining part such that the aperture formed on the folding-down of the lining part is sufficiently large to allow the gas cushion to deploy approximately parallel to a side window of the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. Roof lining according to  claim 11 , wherein the lining part is operatively secured on the roof frame in a freely suspended manner with at least one retaining element. 
     
     
       13. Roof lining according to  claim 12 , wherein the lining part comprises a compacted fiber material, with the section forming the axis of flexion being uncompacted or at least less compacted than remaining regions of the lining part. 
     
     
       14. Roof lining according to  claim 13 , wherein the fiber material is a cotton fiber non-woven. 
     
     
       15. Roof lining according to  claim 13 , wherein the fiber material is hemp. 
     
     
       16. Roof lining according to  claim 13 , wherein the fiber material is kenaf.